Key Roles of mCRY1 and mCRY2 Proteins in the Brain's Daily Rhythm Control

mCry1 and mCry2 genes are involved in the negative limb of the circadian clock feedback loop in mice.

• mCry1 and mCry2 RNA levels decrease in Clock/Clock mutant mice.
• mCRY1 and mCRY2 proteins interact with mPER proteins and help move them from the cytoplasm to the nucleus.
• These proteins are rhythmically expressed in the suprachiasmatic circadian clock.
• mCRY1 or mCRY2 alone can inhibit CLOCK:BMAL1-E box-mediated transcription.
• The mPER and mCRY proteins likely inhibit the transcriptional complex in different ways.

Simplified